Creative Highlight - Photo by Adhitya Sibikumar
I’ve gone back and forth on sharing this, but here it is.
Years ago, my son’s father was diagnosed with stage four cancer. I spent a lot of days sitting alone in a hospital waiting room while he went through radiation, trying to keep my mind straight. I was afraid we might lose him. Honestly, I was doing the bare minimum at work just to keep things afloat.
On one of those days, a creative I represented messaged me. They had a first hold on a simple studio job weeks out, the kind of work they did all the time. They were dropping it because another job paid more.
I explained what a first hold means: the client who asked first has priority on your time, and we honor that. Especially in this case when the first client was confirming them. What followed was a flood of texts disrespecting me, one after another, while I sat there waiting for him to come out of treatment.
They had no idea what I was going through. Part of me believes it wouldn’t have mattered. It wasn’t the first time. Months earlier, when a client paid late, this same person told other creatives they believed I was out shopping with their money. I had no access to funds at all.
So I did the only thing I could in that moment. I put the phone down and let it buzz.
I still remember how that felt. And I wish I had walked away from that relationship much sooner.
Two reminders I carry from that day:
We only ever see a small part of who someone is and what they’re carrying. Lead with grace, because you never know what room someone is sitting in when your message reaches them.
And some of what we endure in life and in work isn’t required. When people show you, again and again, that they won’t respect you, it’s okay to let them go. The ones meant for your path, your purpose, and your future will feel aligned. You’ll know.
Protect your peace. Choose your people.
